How Parents Can Set Education Goals to Help Their Child's Academic Achievement

In today's society, education is the most significant factor supporting the evolution of competence. Quality education gives children a chance to reach their maximal potential and lays the groundwork for success in life. Although most people think schools are the most critical contributor to a child's academic success, recent research in the field of education says that parents play a powerful role in the ultimate success of their children in education. All parents have the power to set their child up for success in school. That power is the power of goal setting.

Parents who Set Education Goals for their Kids: Research

When looking for information on the parent role in education and goal setting, the research is falling into a category called "parent involvement". It is common for research to find that schools, families and communities have a positive impact on education and achievement when they combine efforts. The most powerful finding in research is that when a parent has a goal that their child will be successful in school, they boost their child's potential for success incredibly. Parents who do not have a personal goal that their child succeed in school, do not see the same level of academic success in their children.

Types of Parents who Set Education Goals for their Kid

So, what does a parent goal for education success look like? That is a good question. Parent education goals look different. Some parents may not even say they have a goal. They would say that they expect their kids do their homework, behave in class and participate in school activities. Even though they don't classify in their mind that they have a goal, they do. What they have done is set three objectives for their kids: 1) complete homework, 2) behave in school and 3) participate in activities. If they were asked why they have these standards for their kids, they would more than likely say they want their child to succeed in the education setting.

Other parents have a very formalized education goal for their child's academic success. Some may say they want their child to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. These kinds of goals may not be exactly an education goal, but there is no doubt these parents hold high education expectations for their child.

A third type of parent may have an innate sense of value that education is important and they have a responsibility to help their child be successful in their education. This type of parent typically can tell you they want their child to do well in school as their goal.

Steps to Parent Education Goals Setting

If you are curious as to how to set an education goal for your child, know that a well informed education goal has several parts. The first is an overarching goal statement such as, "I want my child to be successful in their education". They then identify what has to be in place for this education goal to come to life such as: my child has to complete their homework and they have to pay attention in class. A parent who has an education goal for their child also considers how they will motivate their child to reach the education goal. This may be done by helping their child with reminders about time-lines for projects or helping with spelling words etc. Parents with an education goal also follow their child's progress consistently. If their child is not on track, they talk to the teacher, help with homework or get a tutor to help.

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